Bristol developments thrown into doubt
The future of development plans for Bristol has been thrown into doubt by an announcement that millions of pounds of expected Government cash will not be spent in the area.
The proposed science park in Emersons Green is one project whose fate hangs in the balance after a £56-million budget cut was revealed. Other future schemes part-funded by the Government could also be delayed or even cancelled after the recession hit the cash pot used for regional development.
Organisations and groups which have had funds promised to them were set to receive letters this weekend saying that their funding could be withdrawn.
More than 100 projects are expecting cash from the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) between now and 2011.
But SWRDA, which was set up to spend money on projects that allow the region's businesses to expand, has revealed cuts to its main budget and a slowdown in a sale of assets would leave it with £56m less than originally hoped over the next two years.
A Bristol City Council spokesman said the authority believed the redevelopment of Hengrove would be safe for now, as the £10m contribution from SWRDA was already secured.
But the SWRDA refused to comment on the future of any schemes in the area which it is due to support, such as the SPark science park in Emersons Green.
The letter, from outgoing SWRDA chief executive Jane Henderson, said: "Our budget is under pressure for a number of reasons.
"The 2007 Comprehensive Review reduced our budget by five per cent, also, in the last six months, some of the funding for Regional Development Agencies has been redirected by Government to pay for national business support and housing initiatives.
"This has reduced our budget by a further £26m over the next two financial years.
"In financial terms, the recession has reduced our income from assets and our latest estimates show we shall lose at least £30m from our receipts (of sold assets) over the next two financial years."
The letter adds that the SWRDA will decide which projects will be affected following its board meeting in May and will tell affected organisations soon afterwards.
Mrs Henderson said that the SWRDA envisaged "investing in fewer large-scale projects over the next two years."
Work on the £300m Bristol Science Park was due to start at Emersons Green later this year.
The 10-year project was expected to include space for science and technology businesses in the South West and create an estimated 6,000 highly skilled jobs.
The SWRDA has also committed £10m to redeveloping Hengrove.
Led by Bristol City Council, the first phase of the project will see the creation of a community hospital, skills academy, leisure centre and accommodation for a number of major local employers on a 76-acre former airfield site. Later phases will include new homes and offices.
It will secure more than £100m of investment in public facilities for the area and safeguard 2,000 jobs.
The SWRDA's cash has been earmarked to pay for road improvements, utility supplies and drainage in the area around the development, and the construction of roads and landscaping on the site itself.
Simon Caplan, spokesman for the city council, said: "The only financial commitment that SWRDA has committed to Hengrove is for infrastructure budgets and that is in place already.
"There's no reason to say that the Hengrove expansion will be affected.
"But if we had hoped to secure SWRDA money for future projects then that could be affected.
"The city council hasn't officially seen a letter and until we see exact details we can't comment any further."
6 Comments
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by Ben Bennett, NHS Bristol
Monday, March 23 2009, 10:26AM
“It is a shame the article shows a picture of South Bristol Community Hospital when the council comment is clear that the SWRDA commitment to Hengrove is for infrastrucutre budgets which are in place already.”
by Paul, Bristol
Saturday, March 21 2009, 3:20PM
“I was hoping this would lead to a thwarting of my local swimming facilities being located to a remote edge of city spot. Which I've always thought a contradiction to their plans to double the number of cyclists in the next few years.”
by Steve, Bristol
Saturday, March 21 2009, 3:00PM
“And I thought Labour were investing in infrastructure to stimulate the economy out of recession?
Not in the South West, obviously.”
by Grahame P, Central Bristol
Saturday, March 21 2009, 1:27PM
“The SWRDA is just another example of a quangocracy devoted to pumping its own pig-feeding machine.
If there's cash to be spent on infrastucture improvements just give it to the councils. They're not only accountable, they're also less likely to be staffed by failed businessmen masquerading as consultants at huge public expense.”
by Richard, Bristol
Saturday, March 21 2009, 10:11AM
“This is unfortunate news but in these difficult times where is all of this money expected to come from?
£300m on a science park, wow this is very ambitious.
I question how cheap we are valuing land that is owned by tax payers. All land that is owned by the council and is to be sold needs to be advertised and sold at auction with a very high reserve.”